Fast, Easy Insight into Windows Server 2003

I was just about burned out on Windows 2003 books but felt compelled,
at least for comparison purposes, to pore through Microsoft Windows
Server 2003 Insider Solutions.

I'm glad I did. The writing truly stands out—it's simply smoother
and more stylish than the average book. It wasn't exactly funny or entertaining,
but it was certainly a top-notch read.

The quality of writing is important. For a 600-plus page book, good writing
makes it easy to read and easy to skim through material.

The organization is terrific. Each chapter includes an outline of its
contents, and the chapters themselves have handy, easy-to-read boxes and
call outs. But content is king, and here Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Insider
Solutions shines.

I like assertive authors, and the four authors behind
this book aren't afraid to tell IT what to do. For instance, on storage
the book walks through best practices for NAS and SANs and helps IT decide
which approach is best. No namby-pamby, wishy-washy advice here. Sticking
with the same example, the book explained Windows storage options clearly,
and without unnecessary jargon.

Many Windows 2003 books are far larger, but I found Microsoft Windows
Server 2003 Insider Solutions to be quite comprehensive. But more
important, because it is so readable, IT pros are more likely to make
it to the end. This book is a perfect complement to Windows
Server 2003: Best Practices for Enterprise Deployments by Nelson
and Danielle Ruest, a fine book that focuses almost exclusively on migration,
installation and configuration.

About the Author

Doug Barney is editor in chief of Redmond magazine and the VP, editorial director of Redmond Media Group.